Richard Coyle swaps Coupling for Don Carlos

Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle

FOLLOWING its transfer from the Crucible, Sheffield, Mike Poulton's
new adaptation of Don Carlos, will run for a
limited 12-week period, from February 3 - April 20, 2005 (previews
from January 28) at London's Gielgud Theatre.

Friedrich Schiller's classic love story follows the fortunes
of the eponymous Don Carlos, who is passionately in love with
Elizabeth, the French princess, to whom he was once betrothed.

Unfortunately for Don Carlos, his tyrannical father, King Philip
II of Spain, decides to marry Elizabeth himself, thereby enraging
his son who, with the aid of his beloved and an old friend, the
Marquis of Posa, launches a full-scale rebellion against the older
man and his evil regime.

Richard Coyle (pictured)
will appear as Don Carlos, with Claire Price as Elizabeth, Derek
Jacobi as Philip II of Spain, and Una Stubbs as the Duchess of
Olivarez.

Although probably best-known for his role of Jeff in the BBC
comedy, Coupling, Coyle is certainly no stranger to the
stage, having appeared in After Miss Julie and Proof,
both at the Donmar Warehouse; The York Realist at
the Royal Court Theatre and, out of town, in A View From The
Bridge at the Leicester Haymarket.

Jacobi, of course, has enjoyed a long and distinguished career
and only last year, appeared in The Tempest at London's
Old Vic theatre.

He has also worked extensively for the RSC, with the roles of
Prospero (The Tempest), Benedick (Much Ado About
Nothing) and the lead in both Peer Gynt and Macbeth
to his credit.

He has also appeared on TV and will always be remembered for
I Claudius and Cadfael. He was knighted in 1994
in recognition of his work.